Delhi witnessed its cleanest air quality in six years between January and August, according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). On Thursday, the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 53, which falls under the satisfactory category. This marks the cleanest air Delhi has experienced during this period since 2018.
The improvement in air quality is largely attributed to the recent heavy rainfall in the city, which has significantly contributed to the dispersion of pollutants. The Central Pollution Control Board reported the AQI reading of 53 at 4 pm on Thursday, marking the cleanest day for Delhi between January 1 and August 8 in the past six years.
To put it in perspective, an AQI between zero and 50 is classified as good, 51 to 100 as satisfactory, 101 to 200 as moderate, 201 to 300 as poor, 301 to 400 as very poor, and 401 to 500 as severe. The satisfactory AQI of 53 is a significant improvement for Delhi, a city that frequently grapples with severe air pollution, especially during the winter months.
The monsoon season has played a pivotal role in this improvement. The city has been experiencing frequent spells of heavy rain, which have not only brought relief from the humid weather but also helped clear the air. Light rainfall was recorded in parts of Delhi on Thursday, bringing down the maximum temperature to 34.1 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this time of year. The minimum temperature settled at 25.4 degrees Celsius, slightly below the seasonal average.
However, the heavy rainfall has also caused disruptions across the city. Traffic was affected in several areas due to waterlogging and the uprooting of trees. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) received 18 complaints related to waterlogging and 16 reports of uprooted trees on Thursday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a generally cloudy sky with light rainfall for Friday, with temperatures expected to hover around 34 degrees Celsius for the maximum and 26 degrees Celsius for the minimum.
Delhi has recorded a total of 554.6 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 1 this year. Two extreme weather events have contributed significantly to this total: on June 28, when the city recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall—the second-highest in June in 88 years—and on August 1, with 107.6 mm of rainfall.
The monsoon officially hit Delhi on June 28, bringing with it a staggering 228.1 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours. This was the highest recorded rainfall in a single day in June since 1936, when 235.5 mm was recorded at Safdarjung, the city’s primary observatory.
On July 31, Delhi received 108 mm of rain in 24 hours, setting a new record for the highest rainfall in a single day in July in 14 years. The last time such heavy rainfall was recorded in July was in 2010, with the highest-ever recorded in 1961, when the city received 184 mm of rain in 24 hours on July 2.
The heavy monsoon showers have undoubtedly brought some respite to Delhi’s residents by clearing the air and lowering temperatures, but they have also highlighted the city’s vulnerability to waterlogging and other monsoon-related challenges. Despite these challenges, the clean air quality is a welcome relief for a city that has long battled pollution.
